March 27, 2025
For nearly a decade, I dedicated myself to competitive table tennis, competing nationally and internationally.
Later, I had the privilege of representing Switzerland in Ultimate Frisbee in 2018, followed by playing for a club in Toronto.
While I never reached professional status, these experiences as a competitive athlete profoundly shaped who I am today and continue to influence my approach to business and entrepreneurship.
Foundations of Athletic Discipline
Growing up as an athlete instilled qualities that have become fundamental to my character.
In high school, I spent about 30 hours weekly playing sports while maintaining my academic responsibilities.
This wasn’t just about filling time – it was about pursuing excellence in something I loved.
From Passion to Identity
Sports evolved beyond mere activity to become part of my identity.
The better I became, the more enjoyable it was, creating a virtuous cycle of improvement and satisfaction.
I found myself naturally gravitating toward higher levels of competition, constantly seeking to test my limits against increasingly skilled opponents.
From Athletics to Corporate
I vividly remember the transition period when I decided to step back from competitive table tennis during my university years.
It was a bittersweet decision – acknowledging that while table tennis had been a defining passion, I needed to redirect that energy toward my professional development.
Years later, a similar transition occurred when my work at McKinsey made it impossible to maintain my competitive Ultimate Frisbee commitments.
Humility and the Growth Mindset
One of the most valuable lessons sports taught me was the importance of humility. True improvement begins with acknowledging that you’re not yet where you want to be.
This might sound harsh, but it’s actually liberating – recognizing the gap between your current abilities and your potential is the first step toward growth.
The athletic mindset blends this humility with confidence – the confidence to believe you belong at the next level even before you’ve reached it.
You must simultaneously recognize that others surpass you while believing that you can join their ranks through dedicated effort.
This paradoxical balance has served me exceptionally well throughout my professional life.
In consulting, crypto and blockchain, and real estate, I’ve approached new challenges with both the humility to learn from those with more experience and the confidence to believe I could master these fields with sufficient dedication.
Routine, Discipline, and Consistency
Athletic training demanded a rigorous routine and unwavering discipline.
Improvement only comes through consistent practice – showing up day after day, even when motivation wanes. This disciplined approach transfers directly to business pursuits.
In my real estate ventures, I spent years researching markets before making my first investment. But once I started, that disciplined focus allowed me to expand significantly in just 18 months.
The consistent application of what I was learning accelerated my progress far beyond what research alone could have achieved.
This lesson applies universally: consistent execution trumps sporadic brilliance.
Whether developing a new business strategy or analyzing potential acquisitions at Kraken, I bring the same disciplined approach that once governed my athletic training.
The daily habits and routines that produce excellence remain remarkably similar across different domains.
Mental Toughness Under Pressure
Perhaps the most distinctive quality I developed through competitive sports is performance under pressure.
I’ve discovered that I often perform better when the stakes are high – a relatively rare trait that I’ve cultivated through years of competitive experiences.
In high-stakes competitions, the physical differences between athletes often narrow, making mental fortitude the decisive factor.
Through repeated exposure to pressure situations, I learned to embrace these moments rather than avoid them.
This mental toughness now serves me daily in navigating corporate decisions, investment choices, and entrepreneurial challenges.
The ability to maintain clarity and focus when pressure mounts proves invaluable in any professional context.
Whether I’m evaluating a potential acquisition, negotiating a real estate deal, or presenting to executives, the composure I developed as an athlete allows me to perform at my best precisely when it matters most.
Translating Athletic Mindset to Business Success
While my competitive sporting days may be behind me, the mindset these experiences cultivated remains central to my approach to business and life.
The combination of humility with ambition, disciplined routine with adaptability, and mental toughness with strategic thinking creates a powerful framework for professional achievement.
I often approach business challenges like athletic competitions – breaking down problems methodically, establishing consistent practices for improvement, and embracing high-pressure situations.
This athletic foundation has become so integrated into my professional identity that it’s difficult to separate the two.
Conclusion
For anyone with an athletic background considering the business world, I encourage you to consciously leverage these transferable mental skills.
The same qualities that drive athletic achievement – disciplined practice, resilience through setbacks, performance under pressure, and the constant pursuit of improvement – are precisely what distinguish exceptional business professionals from the average.
The competitive drive that once fueled my pursuit of athletic excellence now powers my professional endeavors.
While the arenas have changed, the fundamental approach remains identical: identify the goal, develop a disciplined practice, embrace the challenge, and deliver when it matters most.